there will be no honor gained when blows are
struck, and much condemnation will follow. Government will shuffle the
blame upon some poor devil of an employe, and contend that instructions
were exceeded. Many letters will be written on the subject, and a rigid
investigation held--pounds of printers' ink will be shed, and the
newspapers will be lively with discussions, and in the end the miners
will triumph, and the tax will be abolished."

"And what do you intend doing? stay here in Ballarat, or go to
Melbourne?" demanded Fred.

"I have hardly made up my mind. I shall write to the captain of police a
true statement of my situation, and the manner in which I was
endeavoring to conduct affairs to avoid an eruption; and although I am
not very desirous of the office, yet I will lay a wager that I am
reinstated in some other locality, and that I take a higher rank in my
profession."

The prognostication was correct; for Mr. Brown was removed from the
Ballarat district, and did duty for many months in Melbourne as a
lieutenant, and ranked next after Murden.

Just then a few customers entered the store, and we hastened to attend
upon them, and after their wants were supplied, and the place cleared of
eavesdroppers, Mr. Brown drew his chair up to ours, and asked,--

"Which of you would like to accompany me on a short journey, and be
absent for a week or two, eh?"

"We have not time to spare for that," I said.

"But one of you can go as well as not; that fellow, Barney, whom I see
hanging around here, waiting for Smith, can be made to assist the one
who remains in the store."

"Where do you propose going?"

"I will tell you," replied Mr. Brown, hitching his chair still nearer,
and dropping his voice to a whisper; "I am going to make search for a
buried treasure!"

We started, and pricked up our ears. Here was something worth listening
to.

"Do you think that one of you can go?" Mr. Brown continued, with a sly
wink.

"Well, you have altered our minds slightly, already; but to have our
free consent, state the case frankly."

"I will. You remember when we made an excursion into the country some
three months since, that we had a brush with a party of bushrangers, and
that we captured a number, and among them Bill Swinton, the leader?"

We nodded. We began to comprehend him. Mr. Brown continued, after first
glancing around the room to see that no one was listening save
ourselves,--

"You will also recollect, if y